Wood County - Levy may not be collected

Written by Larry Limpf

November 04, 2010

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After reviewing the budget needs of the county’s departments, the Wood County Commissioners have decided to ask the county’s budget commission to forgo collecting millage for 2011 on a levy that funds the Child and Protective Services program.

Tim Brown, a county commissioner, said tax revenue projections indicate there are sufficient revenues to carry the Job and Family Services Department through 2011 without collecting the tax from property owners next year.

About $3.98 million would be generated next year by the levy.

“At a time when so many families have cut back at home, we feel that an actual tax cut will be helpful to many of our citizens,” he said. “We will make the formal request of the budget commission for their consideration within the next two weeks.”

Park board openingsResumes or letters of interest are being accepted by Wood County Probate Judge David Woessner for appointments to the county’s park district board of commissioners.

There are two three-year openings on the board beginning Jan. 1, 2011

Letters or resumes should be sent to the judge at One Courthouse Square, Bowling Green, O. 43402.

The deadline is Nov. 24.

Utility payment helpA new Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) program called PIPP Plus began Nov. 1, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has announced. The program is designed to make monthly gas and electric payments more affordable on a year-round basis and provide incentives to participants in the program for regular, timely payments.

PIPP Plus is available for customers of Ohio’s regulated electric and natural gas providers whose gross yearly household income is at or below 150 of the federal poverty guidelines. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) oversees the natural gas PIPP while the Ohio Department of Development administers the electric PIPP program and provides administrative support for gas PIPP Plus including enrollment and income re-verification services.

The program allows eligible customers to make affordable payments toward their utility bills while reducing old debt by making timely monthly payments. Customers must verify their income with their local community action agency annually, as well as agree to participate in energy efficiency programs. Customers enrolled in the current PIPP program will automatically be enrolled in PIPP Plus.

Natural gas and electric customers will each pay $10 or six percent of their gross monthly household income each month, whichever is greater. Customers with all-electric homes will pay $10 or 10 percent of their gross monthly household income.

When PIPP Plus payments are made on-time and in-full, the remainder of that months bill is waived, and customers will also receive a 1/24 credit toward any old debt. If a customer makes 24 consecutive payments, all of the arrearages will be eliminated.

Customers who fail to re-verify their income every 12 months risk being removed from the program. Customers who are no longer eligible for PIPP Plus will be placed into a “graduate” program, which allows the customer to pay off any debt over 12 months. PIPP Plus customers must re-verify their income every 12 months to continue to participate in the program.